Apple’s iOS 17 Security Update: What You Need to Know

Apple’s iOS 17 update, released on September 18, 2023, includes a number of new and improved security features, many of which are aimed at protecting people at greater risk of cyberattacks and spyware, such as journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.

Lockdown Mode

Lockdown Mode, which was introduced in iOS 15.2, is a set of extreme security measures that can be enabled to protect your device from highly targeted attacks. In iOS 17, Lockdown Mode has been expanded to include new features and protections, such as:

Apple Watch support: Lockdown Mode can now be enabled and managed on Apple Watch, as well as on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This is important because some recent spyware attacks have been able to compromise Apple Watches.
Geolocation removal: Lockdown Mode now automatically removes the geolocation data from photos by default when sharing photos with other people. This can help to protect your privacy and prevent others from tracking your location.
Wi-Fi and cellular restrictions: Lockdown Mode now blocks automatically joining non-secure Wi-Fi networks and connections to 2G cellular networks. This can help to protect you from a variety of exploits.

Anti-web tracking features

iOS 17’s Safari browser now strips tracking information from web addresses by default. This makes it more difficult for websites and advertisers to track you across the web. You can also choose to enable Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection in Safari settings, which will further block advertisers from tracking you.

Private browsing

Private browsing in Safari now locks by default, prompting you to scan your face or fingerprint before your private tabs will open. This helps to protect your privacy and prevent others from accessing your private browsing history.

Passkeys

Passkeys, a new phishing-resistant way to log in to websites and apps, are getting an update in iOS 17. You can now share passkeys (and passwords, if necessary) with friends and family using end-to-end encryption. This means that nobody else, not even Apple, can access your shared credentials.

Check In

Check In is a new feature in iOS 17 that lets you share your travel plans with friends and family. Check In will monitor your real-time location and alert your friend or family member if you don’t arrive at your destination on time. This location data is end-to-end encrypted, so your friends and family members are the only ones who can see it.

Live Transcription

Live Transcription is a new feature in iOS 17 that can transcribe the voice of a caller into text displayed on the screen in real time. This can be helpful for identifying and avoiding spam and scam calls.

Overall, the iOS 17 security update includes a number of important new and improved features that can help to protect your device and your data from a variety of threats. If you’re an iPhone user, I encourage you to update to iOS 17 as soon as possible.

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Mobile

5 BEST WALLPAPER APPS FOR YOUR IPHONE

by George Mensah 2024-10-18

There are numerous ways to personalize your iPhone, whether it’s by adding widgets to your lock screen, assigning custom ringtones for different contacts, or using unique icons on your home screen. But the easiest and quickest way to give your phone a fresh appearance is by changing your wallpaper. While the iPhone comes with a good variety of default wallpapers—some of which change color based on the time of day—you have even more options to explore. Best wallpaper apps

You can use any photo from your gallery as your wallpaper. However, while some people take beautiful photos themselves, many of us prefer to look for wallpapers elsewhere. You might use Pinterest or find images on Google, but these pictures often aren’t optimized for your phone’s resolution, leading to blurry or cropped results.

This is where third-party apps come in handy. The App Store offers a variety of wallpaper apps designed specifically for high-quality images that fit your iPhone. Below is a list of five great wallpaper apps for iPhone, each with unique features to enhance your phone’s look.

Unsplash

With a library of over six million photos, Unsplash is a top destination for high-resolution images perfect for wallpapers. The app’s simple interface makes it easy to find what you’re looking for without hassle. You can search by category or browse the “Discover” feed, which highlights trending images. If you want to know more about an image, you can tap the info icon to see details like camera type and image resolution.

Though you don’t need an account to use Unsplash, creating one allows you to make collections, sync them across devices, and share them with others. The platform also has user-curated collections, including ones specifically for iPhone wallpapers.

While not all images will match your iPhone’s screen ratio, you can easily crop high-quality images to fit. Unsplash also lets you upload your own photos, which others can download. Despite its extensive selection, the app is free and doesn’t have any intrusive ads, making it a great option for finding premium wallpapers.

Wallcraft

Another excellent option is Wallcraft, which has earned a solid 4.6-star rating on the App Store. This app offers wallpapers in various categories, such as abstract, anime, cars, and space. These are easily accessible from the menu, allowing for simple navigation.

Like Unsplash, Wallcraft allows you to create an account to upload your images and access your downloaded wallpapers. The app also provides live wallpapers for iPhone 6s and newer, which animate briefly when you wake your phone’s screen.

To access premium wallpapers—such as live, double, and exclusive options—Wallcraft offers a subscription for $4.99 per year or a one-time purchase of $12.99, both of which remove ads. Alternatively, you can watch ads to earn credits to unlock specific wallpapers. Even without the premium subscription, Wallcraft’s extensive library makes it a strong choice for wallpaper fans.

Zedge

Zedge is a well-known app for phone customization, offering not only wallpapers but also ringtones and notification sounds. It maintains a 4.4-star rating on the App Store and allows users to search for wallpapers by category or color. This feature makes it easy to find images that match your phone’s theme.

Zedge also features a home screen widget, so you can change your wallpaper frequently without opening the app. Plus, Zedge offers Apple Watch faces and has an AI tool that lets users generate custom wallpapers.

While Zedge charges $4.99 per month for its subscription, users can opt for a lifetime premium option for $19.99. This price includes access to a variety of features beyond wallpapers. However, you can still use Zedge for free without ever needing to upgrade, making it a popular choice for many users.

Vellum Wallpapers

Vellum stands out with its minimalist design and unique interface. Instead of a profile or navigation menu, Vellum organizes wallpapers into curated collections, making it easy to browse through them quickly.

When you select a wallpaper, the app gives you a preview of how it will look on both your lock screen and home screen, so you can see how it will interact with other elements like widgets and app icons. Vellum also offers a blur tool, allowing you to soften the background while still seeing your apps clearly.

Vellum’s premium version costs $2.99, which removes ads. However, all wallpaper collections are available for free, making the app a great choice for discovering beautiful, unique wallpapers.

Backdrops

Lastly, Backdrops is a favorite for many and offers an excellent user experience. It has a regularly updated “Explore” section, showcasing high-quality wallpapers handpicked by the developers. The app also features a “Community” tab where you can find more user-generated content.

Backdrops doesn’t require an account, but logging in allows you to favorite wallpapers and organize them in one place. The app’s clean interface and curated selection make it easy to find the perfect wallpaper that suits your iPhone’s aspect ratio.

For $3.99, you can remove ads and unlock the Pro collection. The free version, however, offers a wide variety of wallpapers that should be enough to refresh your phone’s look.

Choosing the Right Wallpaper App

These five apps were chosen based on their popularity, user reviews, and firsthand testing. Whether you want an extensive library like Unsplash or a carefully curated collection like Vellum, each app provides high-quality wallpapers for iPhone users.

While some apps, like Wallcraft and Zedge, rely on ads, they also offer large collections for free. Meanwhile, apps like Vellum and Backdrops offer a more streamlined experience with well-designed wallpapers that perfectly fit your iPhone. Whatever your preference, these apps will help you give your iPhone a fresh, new look.

Mobile

iPhone SE 4: A major redesign with a new chassis, camera bump, and biometrics

by George Mensah 2023-10-01

The iPhone SE 4, codenamed Ghost, is expected to receive a major redesign with a new chassis, camera bump, and biometrics.

Chassis

The iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis, with two major changes:

Action button: A new multi-purpose button that replaces the mute switch on newer iPhone models. It can be configured to perform a variety of actions, depending on the user’s preference.
USB-C port: In order to comply with upcoming European Union regulations, the iPhone SE 4 will switch to a USB-C port instead of Lightning.

Camera bump

The camera bump on the iPhone SE 4 will be redesigned, with Apple reportedly developing at least five different designs. The exact design of the camera bump is still unclear, but it is expected to be similar to the third-generation iPhone SE in terms of size and placement.

Camera

Preliminary information suggests that the iPhone SE 4 may feature a 48-megapixel rear camera, which would be a significant upgrade from the current model’s 12-megapixel camera.

Biometrics

The iPhone SE 4 will not have a Touch ID home button, but will instead use Face ID for biometric identification. This is likely due to the fact that the new chassis is based on the iPhone 14, which also does not have a Touch ID home button.

In-house 5G modem

Apple is also working on an in-house 5G modem, codenamed Sinope. The iPhone SE 4 is being used to test the new modem, which is expected to debut with the iPhone 16 lineup. However, it is possible that the new modem could be released earlier, as it is currently being tested on the iPhone SE 4 and a derivative of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Mass production

It is still early in the development process, so it is possible that the iPhone SE 4 may not make it to mass production. However, the amount of effort that Apple is putting into the design of the device suggests that it is serious about releasing it.

Overall

The iPhone SE 4 is shaping up to be a major upgrade from the current model. The new chassis, camera bump, and biometrics are all expected to be significant improvements. Additionally, the possibility of an in-house 5G modem could make the iPhone SE 4 even more attractive to consumers.

It is important to note that this information is preliminary and subject to change. However, it gives us a good idea of what to expect from the iPhone SE 4 when it is finally released.

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